Junior Graphic Designer (Performance Marketing) at Runna

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer (Performance Marketing)

Company: Runna

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Graphic Design / Performance Marketing Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-10

Experience Level: Junior (1.5+ years or Bachelor's Degree)

Remote Status: Hybrid (2-3 days in office)

🎨 Role Summary

Design visually compelling and high-performing graphics specifically for paid social media advertising campaigns (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Google, etc.) to drive user acquisition for a leading running training platform.
Collaborate closely with the Creative Manager and Performance Marketing Lead to translate marketing objectives into impactful design assets that resonate with target runner demographics.
Contribute fresh, innovative creative concepts during brainstorming sessions to continuously improve advertising campaign effectiveness and explore new visual storytelling approaches.
Utilize performance metrics and data-driven insights to iterate on and optimize creative assets for maximum conversion rates and return on ad spend (ROAS).

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly focused on performance marketing design, which requires a different skillset than organic social media design. Emphasis is placed on direct response, scroll-stopping visuals, and data-informed creative iteration. This is crucial for candidates to understand the core function.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Design and produce a high volume of diverse graphic assets for various digital advertising platforms, ensuring visual consistency with Runna's brand identity while adapting creative for platform-specific best practices.
Develop creative concepts and storyboards for performance marketing campaigns, working from initial briefs through to final asset delivery for A/B testing and broader campaign deployment.
Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, content, product) and potentially external agencies to ensure design output aligns with overall marketing strategy and brand guidelines.
Analyze the performance of design assets using marketing analytics data (e.g., click-through rates, conversion rates) to identify successful creative patterns and areas for improvement.
Stay informed about the latest graphic design trends, digital advertising best practices, and industry innovations to inform creative strategy and maintain a competitive edge in performance marketing.
Contribute to the evolution of Runna’s brand identity within the context of performance marketing, exploring new visual styles and content formats.
Manage design projects from concept to completion, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables are of high quality in a fast-paced, iterative environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Breaking down responsibilities into specific actions like "produce a high volume," "analyze performance," and "stay informed about trends" provides a clearer picture of the daily tasks and the dynamic nature of performance marketing design. The emphasis on data-driven iteration is key for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related creative field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 1.5 years of professional experience in a graphic design or content creation role. Experience specifically within paid advertising or performance marketing is a significant bonus.

Required Skills:

Proven proficiency in industry-standard graphic design software such as Figma and Adobe Photoshop.
A strong portfolio showcasing graphic design work, particularly examples demonstrating the ability to follow and adapt brand guidelines effectively.
Solid understanding of fundamental design principles, including color theory, typography, layout composition, and visual hierarchy.
Demonstrated ability to create engaging, "social-first" content optimized for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Ability to think creatively and generate innovative, outside-the-box design concepts for advertising campaigns.
Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to understand marketing objectives and translate them into visual solutions.
Excellent verbal and written presentation skills to articulate design decisions and creative rationale to cross-functional teams.
A proactive approach to self-development, staying current with design trends, digital marketing innovations, and the broader industry landscape.

Preferred Skills:

Experience designing for performance marketing campaigns with a focus on direct response and conversion.
Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and using data to inform creative decisions.
Experience working within a fast-paced startup or growth-focused environment.
Understanding of basic animation principles for creating simple motion graphics for social media (though not explicitly required, could be beneficial).

📝 Enhancement Note: Clarifying the experience requirement to include either formal education or practical experience makes it more inclusive. Highlighting specific software proficiency and the need for a portfolio demonstrating brand adherence are crucial for a junior design role in a structured environment. Mentioning the bonus for paid advertising experience manages candidate expectations.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Include a curated selection of graphic design projects that best demonstrate your skills in creating visually appealing and effective digital assets.
Prioritize projects where you followed or adapted existing brand guidelines, showcasing your ability to work within established visual systems.
If possible, include examples of work created for social media or advertising, highlighting your understanding of platform-specific design considerations.
Showcase your ability to apply design principles effectively (typography, color, layout) in your work.

Process Documentation:

For at least one or two key projects, provide a brief overview of your design process, from understanding the brief and initial concepting to iteration and final output.
Explain the rationale behind your design decisions and how they address the project's objectives.
While detailed case studies are not strictly required for a junior role, demonstrating your thinking process is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: Providing specific guidance on portfolio content for a junior performance marketing design role is vital. Emphasizing adherence to brand guidelines and showing work created for social/advertising contexts directly addresses the core requirements of the position. Keeping the process documentation requirement brief is appropriate for a junior level.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £28,000 - £40,000 per year.

This range is based on the specified salary in the job description for a Junior Graphic Designer role in London, United Kingdom. Salaries in London can vary based on experience, specific skillset, and company size/stage. This range aligns with typical compensation for junior design roles in the London tech and startup scene, particularly those with a focus on digital performance marketing.

Benefits:

Flexible working arrangements, typically requiring 2-3 days per week in the Vauxhall, London office.
Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, plus bank holidays, with flexibility on when you take them.
Equity in Strava (RSUs) as part of the recent acquisition, offering potential long-term value.
Complimentary Runna subscriptions for yourself and up to 5 friends or family members.
Free Strava membership.
Access to a Headspace membership for mental wellness support.
Annual allowance (£) to spend on running gear, events, and gym memberships.
Annual voucher for the Runna website to purchase Runna brand kit.
Private health insurance through Bupa and enrollment in a workplace pension scheme.
Access to Modern Health, a mental wellness platform providing professional support.
Carrot fertility support, offering inclusive benefits for family planning.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility inherent in the hybrid working model to manage personal schedules while meeting team and project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range was explicitly provided. The enhancement focuses on explaining the context of this range within the London market for a junior design role. The benefits list is comprehensive and highlights several unique perks specifically relevant to a fitness company and the recent acquisition by Strava.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Health, Wellness & Fitness / Technology (Mobile App)

Company Size: 51-200 employees (LinkedIn data)

Founded: 2020

Runna is a rapidly growing fitness technology company focused on providing personalized training plans and coaching for runners. Founded in 2020, they quickly gained traction, secured significant funding, and were recently acquired by Strava, a major player in the fitness tracking space. The company operates with a fast-moving, test-and-learn culture, characteristic of successful startups. The design culture is likely focused on creating high-impact, visually engaging content that directly contributes to user acquisition and growth, particularly within the performance marketing team.

Team Structure:

The Junior Graphic Designer reports to the Creative Manager and works closely with the Performance Marketing Lead, indicating a direct alignment between creative output and marketing goals.
Part of the Growth team, suggesting a focus on data-driven design and iterative creative development.
Collaboration with internal teams (marketing, content, product) and potentially external agencies is expected, highlighting the need for strong communication and teamwork skills.

Methodology:

Emphasis on a "test-and-learn" culture, implying an iterative design process where creative concepts are tested, analyzed based on performance metrics, and refined.
Likely utilizes agile or lean methodologies within the Growth team to move quickly and respond to data.
Creative optimization based on performance metrics is a core part of the design workflow.

Company Website: https://jobs.workable.com/company/65fae93f840953168c7f114a/jobs-at-runna

📝 Enhancement Note: Incorporating company size, founding date, industry, and the recent Strava acquisition provides crucial context. Inferring the design culture based on the "test-and-learn" environment and the focus on performance marketing helps candidates understand the work style. Detailing the reporting structure within the Growth team clarifies the role's position and key collaborations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is positioned as a Junior Graphic Designer role, suitable for individuals with foundational skills and some practical experience, looking to develop their expertise in a fast-paced, performance-oriented design environment.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Creative Manager and works closely with the Performance Marketing Lead, providing direct mentorship on creative execution and strategic alignment with marketing objectives.

Design Impact: Design in this role has a direct and measurable impact on the company's growth by influencing the effectiveness of paid advertising campaigns, which are crucial for user acquisition in a subscription-based business model.

Growth Opportunities:

Develop specialized skills in performance marketing design, a high-demand area within digital marketing.
Gain experience working with data and analytics to inform creative decisions, a valuable skill for career progression in design.
Opportunities to contribute innovative creative concepts and see their impact directly on user acquisition.
Potential for growth within the design team as the company scales, potentially moving into mid-level design roles or specializing further in performance creative strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Clearly defining the career level and explaining the direct impact of design on business growth (user acquisition via paid ads) makes the role's significance clear. Outlining specific growth opportunities tied to performance design skills and data integration highlights the potential career path within the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid office environment with a requirement to be in the Vauxhall, London office 2-3 days per week.

Office Location(s): Vauxhall, London, United Kingdom.

Design Workspace Context:

The hybrid model allows for a balance of focused remote work and in-person collaboration with the team.
Office days provide opportunities for direct interaction, brainstorming sessions, and quick feedback loops with the Creative Manager, Performance Marketing Lead, and other team members.
The office environment likely fosters a collaborative and energetic atmosphere common in startups, supporting creative idea generation and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Flexible within a full-time framework, accommodating the hybrid model. The expectation is to manage your time effectively to meet project deadlines and be present for required in-office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: Detailing the hybrid work model and the specific office location is essential for candidates. Explaining the benefits and expectations of the hybrid setup, particularly for creative collaboration and team interaction, provides a realistic picture of the work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Stage 1: Intro Chat (25 min video call): Initial screening with a Talent Associate (Josh) to discuss your background, interest in the role, and fit with Runna's culture. Be prepared to briefly talk about your portfolio and relevant experience.
Stage 2: Take Home Task & Interview (50 min video call): You will likely be given a design task related to performance marketing creative. The interview with the Creative Manager (Calum) and Performance Marketing Lead (Laura) will focus on reviewing your task submission, discussing your design process, technical skills, and understanding of performance marketing design principles.
Stage 3: Office Visit (In-person interview & Meet the Team): This stage involves visiting the London office. You will have an interview (40 mins) with the Head of Growth (Miranda) and CEO (Dom) focusing on strategic thinking, cultural fit, and broader impact. You will also have a chance to meet other team members in a less formal setting.
Final Decision: The team will make a final decision and communicate it as soon as possible after the final stage.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online and clearly organized.
Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight work relevant to performance marketing or social media advertising, if available.
For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the tools used, and the outcome (if measurable).
Be prepared to walk through your design process for key projects during interviews.
Focus on demonstrating your ability to create visually appealing, on-brand, and effective designs.

Challenge Preparation:

The take-home task will likely involve designing creative assets for a hypothetical Runna performance marketing campaign.
Understand the target audience for Runna and the goals of performance marketing (e.g., driving app downloads, subscriptions).
Practice designing for different social media ad formats and consider how to make visuals "scroll-stopping."
Be prepared to explain your design choices and how they are intended to achieve the marketing objectives.
Manage your time effectively to complete the task within the given timeframe.

ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Performance Marketing, Paid Social, Social Media Ads, Instagram Ads, Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads, Google Ads, Creative Optimization, Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite, Brand Guidelines, Design Principles, Typography, Color Theory, Layout, Visual Communication, Digital Design, Creative Strategy, Concept Ideation, A/B Testing, Data-Driven Design, User Acquisition, Growth Marketing, Digital Marketing, Visual Design, Content Creation, Running, Fitness, Wellness.

📝 Enhancement Note: Breaking down the interview process into distinct stages with names and durations provides a clear roadmap for candidates. Adding specific preparation tips for the portfolio review and take-home task, tailored to performance marketing design, offers actionable advice. Including a comprehensive list of relevant ATS keywords helps candidates optimize their application materials.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Figma: Likely used for UI/UX-related design tasks, prototyping, and potentially some graphic asset creation, especially vector-based work and design system management. Proficiency is required and expected.
Adobe Photoshop: Essential for photo editing, manipulation, and creating raster-based graphics for advertising. Proficiency is required and expected.
Similar Tools: General proficiency in other graphic design software may be beneficial, demonstrating adaptability.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Likely uses collaboration tools like Slack or similar for team communication and project coordination.
Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira) are probably used within the Growth team to track tasks and deadlines.

Research & Testing:

Performance marketing platforms (e.g., Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ads) will be used by the marketing team, and the designer will need to understand how their creative integrates with these platforms and how to interpret creative performance data.
Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, internal dashboards) will likely be used to track campaign performance and inform creative optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specifying primary design tools like Figma and Photoshop is crucial. Including potential collaboration and data/analytics tools provides a more complete picture of the technology environment the designer will interact with, even if they aren't directly using all of them.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Impact-Oriented Design: Focus on creating designs that directly contribute to business goals, specifically user acquisition through performance marketing.
Data-Driven Creativity: Willingness to use performance metrics to inform and iterate on creative concepts.
Innovation and Experimentation: Encouragement to explore new ideas and test different creative approaches in a "test-and-learn" environment.
Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with marketing, content, and other teams to achieve shared objectives.

Collaboration Style:

Fast-paced and iterative, with quick feedback loops on creative performance.
Likely involves regular brainstorming sessions to generate new creative concepts.
Cross-functional collaboration is essential for aligning creative output with marketing strategy and brand messaging.
Expect a culture where ideas are encouraged, and constructive feedback is part of the process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferring design values based on the company's focus on growth and a "test-and-learn" culture provides insight into what the team prioritizes. Describing the collaboration style as fast-paced and iterative helps candidates understand the work rhythm and interaction frequency.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Maintaining a high volume of creative output while ensuring quality and brand consistency across numerous ad variations and platforms.
Continuously generating fresh, "scroll-stopping" creative concepts in a competitive digital advertising landscape.
Translating performance data into actionable design insights for creative optimization.
Balancing creative exploration with the need for efficient, scalable design production.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Deepen expertise in performance marketing design and data-driven creative optimization.
Gain experience working within a high-growth startup environment recently acquired by a major industry player (Strava).
Develop strong collaboration skills working with marketing and growth teams.
Opportunity to contribute to shaping the brand's visual identity within the performance marketing context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying specific challenges like high volume, continuous ideation, and data translation provides a realistic view of the role's demands. Framing these challenges as opportunities for skill development highlights the potential for growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing for different digital platforms (e.g., Instagram vs. TikTok vs. Google Ads) and how you adapt your creative.
Explain your process for taking a creative brief and translating it into visual concepts.
Discuss how you incorporate feedback into your design iterations.
If you have experience, talk about how you've used data or performance metrics to inform your design decisions.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Runna and Strava's mission, values, and target audience. Be prepared to discuss why you are excited about working for a company in the running/fitness space.
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for a fast-paced, "test-and-learn" environment.
Be ready to discuss how you collaborate effectively with non-design stakeholders.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Prepare to walk through 2-3 key projects in your portfolio that are most relevant to performance marketing or social media design.
For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design process, the tools you used, and the outcome.
If you have any metrics related to the performance of your designs (e.g., click-through rates, engagement), be sure to highlight them.
Focus on showcasing your visual design skills, your ability to work within constraints (like brand guidelines), and your creative problem-solving approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Providing specific examples of potential interview questions, categorized by topic, helps candidates structure their preparation. Offering tactical advice on portfolio presentation and highlighting the importance of demonstrating impact makes the guidance actionable.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link.
Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily accessible, and highlights your most relevant graphic design work, particularly any experience with performance marketing or social media creative.
Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your graphic design skills, proficiency in tools like Figma and Photoshop, and any experience or interest in performance marketing and the fitness industry.
Prepare for the interview process by reviewing your portfolio, practicing discussing your design process, and researching Runna and Strava.
Be ready to discuss how your design skills can directly contribute to Runna's growth objectives through effective advertising creative.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Junior Graphic Designer (Performance Marketing)